Reviving a Bustling Medical Facility’s Entrance

Peter Munk Cardiac CentreToronto, Ontario, Canada

“The design team was always responsive during the compressed permit and construction periods and always offered reasonable solutions to issues that arose during the course of the project.”

Frédéric Lacombe
Project Manager, University Hospital Network

Several years after designing this world-renowned healthcare facility, HOK was commissioned to refresh the building facade, entry system and landscape facing University Avenue.

Working closely with the Peter Munk Foundation, HOK’s team developed a formal scheme that incorporates English garden elements with the functional entry of the main healthcare facility.

The team collaborated with designer Martin Lane Fox to plant an arrangement of interwoven linden trees to frame the grand entry. Structured soil cell systems encourage the healthy growth of trees and maintain clear hardscape circulation around the entrance. Limestone paving, complemented by a curbless finished concrete driveway, promotes a barrier-free environment that accommodates the high volume of pedestrian traffic.

Presented with an exceptionally tight eight-month schedule, the team completed the design, permitting process and construction in time for the grand opening.